Ottawa Senators Arena Project Advances with Land Deal

A significant advancement has been made in the plans for a new National Hockey League arena and events center in downtown Ottawa. The National Capital Commission (NCC) has announced its intention to sell 4.5 hectares of land within the LeBreton Flats area of the city.

The NCC and Capital Sports Development Inc. (CSDI), a group spearheaded by the Ottawa Senators, released a joint statement on Monday. This statement detailed an agreement in the ongoing effort to construct a new stadium, which would replace the existing Canadian Tire Centre. The Senators have been playing at the current facility, situated approximately 20 kilometers west of downtown Ottawa, since 1996.

The site central to this agreement is located at LeBreton Flats, just west of Parliament Hill. This area is largely vacant, having once been a working-class community. The NCC currently manages the flats, which also houses the National Holocaust Monument and the Canadian War Museum. The area also benefits from the presence of two light-rail stations.

Cyril Leeder, president and chief executive officer of the Ottawa Senators, expressed the club's satisfaction with the agreement. He emphasized the importance of moving forward with the next stages of the project's development. These steps, according to the NCC, will involve zoning, design, approvals, and land decontamination to prepare for construction.

Tobi Nussbaum, the head of the NCC, highlighted the positive impact the project will have on Ottawa. He stated that the events center will provide a vibrant attraction for residents and visitors, injecting new energy into the core of the Nation’s Capital and further stimulating the development of LeBreton Flats. The agreement builds upon previous real estate transactions completed by the NCC since 2002, which aim to bring over 2,000 new housing units and new retail and commercial spaces to the area. In 2022, the NCC had previously signed a memorandum of understanding with CSDI.